Banana Milkshake

By Weatherly Becker-GottliebJun 26, 2024Jump to Recipe

This Banana Milkshake is a quick, delicious, and sweet treat you will enjoy every single time.

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I have always had a sweet tooth. I know I am not alone, but mine is serious. While growing up, I loved anything sweet. It didn’t matter how bad it was for me. I remember when I first had a banana milkshake, I was blown away. Bananas are a favorite fruit of mine, always have been. I like banana custard, banana cream pie, fresh peeled bananas… I would even slice bananas to put on my cereal as a kid.

The only problem I had was making the perfect banana milkshake. I just couldn’t get the consistency right. Putting bananas in with ice didn’t work, and using frozen bananas never seemed right. It wasn’t until I found this recipe that I realized a milkshake doesn’t need to be frozen to be a milkshake, it just needs to be creamy. This recipe fixed all my problems.

This recipe hits all the flavor profiles you want. By using fresh bananas, you get the full flavor of the banana; by using whole milk, you get the creaminess; and by adding just a splash of vanilla, you get a little added sweetness. Despite the lack of ice or ice cream, you still end up with an amazingly creamy and delicious banana milkshake—and without the brain freeze, too!

Is A Banana Milkshake Healthy?

I know the idea of a healthy milkshake seems foreign to most. A milkshake is typically rich, sweet, and has a high calorie count due to the sugars and fats present. However, this banana milkshake recipe is different from most. Bananas are a great source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6; plus, they promote heart health, digestive health, and can help with weight loss. Bananas have a natural sweetness that can help fight cravings for unhealthy processed sugars. This recipe does have the fat content of whole milk, but the lack of ice cream in the recipe keeps the fat content manageable. This banana milkshake is a delicious gluten-free treat that can easily be made vegan by substituting your whole milk for a plant-based alternative like oat milk or coconut milk.

How will I know my bananas are ripe?

The most important ingredient in a banana milkshake is the bananas themselves. When selecting your bananas, you want to make sure your peel is a bright yellow with a few small brown spots. Using green or light yellow bananas will not provide the correct level of sweetness, while overly brown bananas will not give you the right consistency and will be too sweet. A perfectly ripe banana is still firm to the touch but not hard; if your banana feels too soft, it is overripe and will not make for a perfect banana milkshake.

INGREDIENTS

2 large ripe bananas
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional: whipped cream for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend

Combine bananas, milk, and vanilla.

Serve

Pour into glasses, add whipped cream if desired

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How do I prep and store this milkshake?

This banana milkshake is meant to be enjoyed right away, but if you want to save it for later, store it in a mason jar and put it in the refrigerator for no more than a few hours. You really do not want to wait too long—if you do, the ingredients could separate.

Can I add other fruit to my banana milkshake?

While it is possible to add other fruit to your banana milkshake, I would not recommend it. Other fruit can add unnecessary liquid to your milkshake, changing the consistency. You also run the risk of seeds and pulp that do not blend as easily and will compromise the smoothness of your milkshake. However, if you do decide you want more fruit in your milkshake, use fresh fruit instead of frozen to ensure they are at their most nutritious.

Can I turn this into a chocolate banana milkshake?

There are two ways you can add chocolate to this recipe. The first is to add unsweetened cocoa powder into the blender with the vanilla extract. This will add a nice chocolate flavor without making it overly sweet. The second is to replace the vanilla extract with a small amount of chocolate syrup. This is not as healthy an option but my goodness, is it tasty!

Serving Suggestions

This recipe for a banana milkshake is best enjoyed served right away, in a tall glass. You can garnish with optional whipped cream or a few slices of fresh banana. You can also add a nice crunch as the topping with either some chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, or my personal favorite: crushed graham crackers.

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